Back from the dead. Its been awhile since i have updated this.
The BMW x5 e53 4.4i has been going strong, it tows so well and drinks so little while towing i cant believe it.
In terms of service, its had multiple engine oil/oil filter changes. Front differential oil has its second oil change and transfer case oil has been changed multiple times too.
Transmission oil had its second service since the first one(17/6/2015 oil, filter and gasket) and the second one was done on the 16/2/2016(oil, filter and gasket) and boy you can feel the difference! it just glides into gear changes
and you can barely feel it. Service done by the boys from www.abautomatics.com.au Genuine ZF remanufacture. Genuine Lifeguard 5 was used.
I have also done some Front suspension touch up, Both thrust bushing, both lower ball joints and both anti rolls bar joints have been changed to brand new.
While changing the front stuff, front driver right hand side shock spotted sweating abit. Driveshaft boot also has a torn boot. In time they will be replaced.
Thermostat has been replaced along with all radiator hoses.
Expansion tank Level indicator stick got disintegrated, so the whole expension tank got replaced.
Valve cover Gasket got replaced(Only changed one side last time)
I have Also been collecting other parts to service.
Valley Pan kit(all gaskets and o rings)
CCV Kit
Intake manifold Gasket along with all gasket for CCV and Throttle body etc.
Water pump too.
Both Front Lower Cover gaskets too.
New 2x Engine mounts
New 1x Transmission/Transfer case mount
New 4x Rear subframe bushings that i filled with Polyuthrene to make it more solid for Towing.
1x Tool to press rear subframe bushings in/out too.
8x New Injector O-ring Gasket
It has been cold lately in Australia, Melbourne. starting the car up in the mornings have been showing signs that the CCV/intake manifold gasket needed to be replaced.
I also spotted oil leak coming down from the Oil return pipe that leads to the oil sump. I immediately knew some hoses have harden and rotten away leading this to leak oil.
Finding time to do it was abit hard knowing i will need at least 1-2days to work on the car. Its hard when weather is always 3-8Degrees and raining.
Fast forward.. Woke up one morning and thought.. lets do it.
Summary of this service.. I knew it was going to take long. The car itself is so tall. Reaching for bolts for the Coolant ACCUMULATOR bolts at back of the engine is a bitch.
the Injector clips is also a tedious job. labeling wires and cleaning while taking things a part just takes up time. I also didnt want to break any bolts or wreck any gaskets.
I kinda took my time cleaning and checking while everything was out.

In this picture, lying on my back trying to open up the Circle clip that holds the two wires leading to the sump and I think Oxygen sensor which was so hard to open up! Biggest drainer too because there was a cable tie between the shaft/behind AC compressor that bundled up the wires that I could not get any cable cutters to... took me 40mins just to cut the cable ties..


These Hose were also hard to take off. I didn't want to break the Plastic Nipple that this hose slips into. Everythings so brittle.


Taking off the Intake manifold I knew I was going to find underneath, Dirt, oil and a little bit of coolant. But what shocked me was there was a hose the rotten away lying on top of the two coolant pipes.. melted.. leaking oil.
The oil separator hose also just came off without me even touching it when I lifted off the intake manifold. Good old BMW.
I also had to cut the hose that lead to the Brake booster on I didn't want to ruin the brake booster lines or anything by yanking on it.

Throttle body was so dirty underneath i just had to clean everything up.


Intake manifold was so oily! I degreased Inside Intake manifold and scrubbed the intake holes. New gaskets back and front

Coolant Accumulator is off. What a bloody struggle. I was literally on my stomach, feet off the ground lying across the engine trying to reach the back bolts.


I Scrubbed and cleaned this Coolant accumulator so well it looked brand new. I forgot to take a picture of it when it was clean.


Coolant pipes off and scrubbed down.


This was night time after work about 8pm outside. I got new hoses for the oil separator and oil return hose. New valley pan and valley pan cover was also replaced.


Close up of picture. I tried cleaning as much of it as I could.


Intake manifold back on. I also changed all 8 Injector O-Rings while I was at it.


These were the OEM original Rotten Hoses.


I plugged most of the things back up. Need to plug 2 more wires up and im done. As you can see.. my electrical boxes are damaged. They were so brittle. I will have to do something about it.


Will bleed coolant tonight and see how things go. Fingers Crossed... coolant doesn't leak at the at accumulator pipes, despite putting knew O-rings in.